A pure 400m sprinter! Really? Quincy Wilson knows the exact things about his ability. That’s why he picks up his event carefully. Before the Paris Olympics, the 16-year-old took 44.66 seconds to demolish a 42-year-old age-based record in the 400m event. In just seven days, he came back again and set a better timing, 44.59 seconds. In the Paris Olympics, Wilson had another confrontation with the records. With Team USA’s victory in the men’s 4x400m relay race, he became the youngest male track and field athlete ever to win the Olympic gold medal. An enviable summer for sure! But Quincy Wilson is more than the 400m event-athlete. So what is on the list for him now? 

Maybe a record in a different track event! The Chesapeake native has set that mark recently. In the 600m event, he took only 1:17.19 to cross the finishing line. Another record-breaking feat! But did he do that without breaking any sweat? What is his secret?

Quincy Wilson drops words about his champion mindset 

On December 28, Quincy Wilson appeared in the US Marine Corps Holiday Classic-his first contest after the Paris Olympics. So the interest had already been there. But little did anybody know about Quincy’s preference for events and plans. In the contest, he chose the 600m event and won it taking 1:17.19 seconds. Now two factors are important. The teenager’s timing made him the second-fastest high schooler in the USA in the 600m event. Moreover, he took just 22.523 seconds to complete the first 200m distance in the race. How? Any special reason? EXL Sports Media asked him the question on the sideline, right after his event in The Armory Indoor arena. As per the Olympian, there was not any special reason. Instead, his mindset allowed him to put out such a performance. Really? But how? 

In the conversation, Quincy Wilson said, “That did just happen. You know, coming out when you have a lot of adrenaline, it’s your first individual race, anything can happen.” But after August, the US Marine Corps Holiday Classic was his first contest. In the past 100 days, he had not been seen much in his practice sessions or any other friendly contest. Then how could he generate such a raw pace on the track?

Again, Quincy grinned. For him, matching up with massive speed is an effortless task. He can’t think of anything except this. Meanwhile, he shared his final answer, and it was, “I told myself I was either going to bust it or I was going to get blown up. But actually, I went out there and I busted out the first 200 and that set me up for a really good race.” So, for him, the initial pace paved the way to complete the race in record timing. 

Notably, on December 28, Quincy’s timing remained at 22.523 seconds, 26.015 seconds, and 28.648 seconds to finish the consecutive 200m distances in a 600 m event. That signifies his unique approach and mindset in the event. The big names from other fields have already spotted these traits in him. They also have showered praise on him. 

Accolades follows Quincy Wilson as he embarks on a unique story 

After the Paris Olympics summer, the sports lined up to clap at Quincy Wilson. His uncommon talent made a space in the discussions of revered names such as Ebony and USATF. Ebony gave him a space on its annual Power 100 list. The category was Generation Next (awarded by United Airlines). At 16, Quincy Wilson made a place on a list that had names like Angel Reese and Arya Starr. Meanwhile, USATF came up with the title, Youth Athlete of the Year. Another laurel! But that wasn’t all. He has received words of praise as well. 

Much before the Paris Olympics, the NFL bigwigs Coach Prime and Tyreek Hill came to give Wilson his flowers. First, Tyreek dropped his words on X to celebrate the teenager’s uniqueness. “I don’t see enough people talking Quincy Wilson, bro 16 and out there competing,” the Miami Dolphins wide receiver penned on X.

Coach Prime didn’t remain a mere spectator of Quincy’s fireworks. In July, the Colorado Buffaloes’ coach wrote on X, “God bless this young man Quincy Wilson. You are awesome!!!!!!” In the Olympics as well, the Bullis High School attendee had special moments when LeBron James and Coco Gauff posed with him in front of cameras. Did those moments work as motivation for him? What do you think?